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If you live in an older apartment, condo or house, you might find electrical outlets few and far between – or never in the places you need them. While newer homes often have more outlets, they aren’t always configured for your individual lifestyle. Of course, you can use extension cords but that’s not an attractive option, and too many cords all around can be a safety hazard for children and pets. Installing new electrical outlets is the perfect solution but it’s a job strictly for a professional as electricity is dangerous and not a DIY project for an unlicensed professional.

Here are the top seven places to install outlets to make your home more convenient and attractive while providing power accessibility for all of your devices and appliances.

1. Entry or foyer
The entryway is an area you might not consider needing an outlet, but if you have a spacious foyer, you might want to accent the area with a table and a nice lamp. Foyer tables can be a prime spot for a phone charger too, so you can top off your battery before leaving without forgetting your device.

2. Floors and baseboards
Traditional outlets are on lower walls, but if you have outlets with no furniture in front of them, they can be unsightly with cords hanging around. Installing a middle-of-the-floor outlet in a larger room lets you plug in lamps easily and consider baseboard plugs as less visually intrusive.

3. High up on the wall
You wouldn’t usually put an outlet high up on a wall, but what about for your flat screen TV? Cords draping down the wall are annoying, and with a well-placed outlet up high, you can power your TV and cable box without running cords down to the floor.

4. Bathroom walls
Your bathroom likely has an outlet, but if you have a long counter top, you might want to double up and have one on each side so there’s never a reason to drape a cord across the sink. Water and electricity don’t mix and adding a second outlet is an affordable safety solution.

5. Kitchen counter
Most kitchen outlets are in the middle of the wall, but the latest style is a long bar of outlets under cabinets or at the crease where the counter meets the backsplash. This lets you move appliances around without having to plug and unplug them constantly because they’re fighting over plugs.

6. Garages
Garages are often neglected when it comes to outlets, but it’s where you often need them. You need power for electric lawn tools, a second fridge or freezer, and for power tools for projects. Why not add two or three outlets to your garage for convenience?

7. Outdoors
Another often-neglected spot is outdoors. Having outlets on your porch or deck offers more options for décor and entertainment. Adding music and lighting to outdoor experiences is a must, but without power, you’ll have visible extension cords ruining your aesthetic.

Do you have too many devices and not enough outlets, call Pinellas County Electric today. We can add enhanced outlets to existing spaces to include USB charging ports and run brand new outlets wherever you need them.

Some of the things that you should look for when hiring an electrician to work on your next project include:

1. Reputation of Professionalism
Working with a licensed electrician who maintains a high level of professionalism can provide you with peace of mind that the electrician will not only be able to provide good customer service but will also treat your property with respect. When interviewing an electrician for the job, pay attention to how they communicate with you, as well as their overall attitude, appearance, and courteousness to determine if they are the best fit for your needs.

2. The Right Qualifications and Certifications
Before hiring an electrician, it is extremely important to ask for their certifications and qualifications. Electricians who are not properly qualified can end up causing problems or taking shortcuts that you will have to deal with down the road; however, working with a certified electrician will allow you to rest assured that you are getting the best value for your money.

3. A High Level of Experience
Once you have determined that the electrician you are thinking about hiring has the right qualifications and certifications, it is important to find out how much experience they have. A highly experienced, skilled, and well-trained electrician will be able to provide you with high-quality work and services, while an inexperienced electrician may not. Consider looking for an electrician who has at least three years of experience and is always looking to sharpen their skills.

4. Proper Insurance
Since anything can happen on the jobsite, you should insist on only hiring an electrician who is fully licensed and insured. Doing so will protect you from any liabilities as a home or business owner in the event of an accident.

If you would like to learn everything we consider when adding a new electrician to our team, or if you are interested in one of our residential electrical services or commercial electrical services, please contact Pinellas County Electric at 727-269-1982

There are over 25,000 or more electrical fires reported every single year in the United States. The most common causes of these? Mishandling of electrical devices! Safety is huge, and even a minor mistake can leave you with property damage or far worse. That’s why at Pinellas County Electric we place your safety as a top priority. Below we detail the most effective methods of minimizing your electrical fire risks.

Use These 6 Tips to Avoid Electrical Fires
Don’t worry—we’re not about to tell you that you need to do something crazy like invest in a total home rewiring (unless you’re in serious need). Most of these tips are simple and easy to follow:

Never overburden an outlet. We understand that you have oodles of appliances and electrical knick-knacks in your home. But circuits are only designed to handle so much, and they aren’t going to stop you from trying to plug one last thing into that outlet. But an overburdened outlet can easily start a fire. If you need more electrical access, use safe surge protection devices, or simply get more outlets installed.
Pay attention to outlets near water sources. Kitchens, utility rooms, and garages should be equipped with GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) outlets that are safe to use around water sources.

Don’t leave electrical devices unattended. We’re not asking you to stand guard over your PC or television at all times, but it’s wise to never leave things like space heaters running when no one is in the room. And this goes double for appliances in the kitchen—the number one place home fires start!

Never leave flammables near cords, outlets, or heat sources. Be aware of where drapes or carpets might fall near your electrical devices. Electricity generates heat, and while in most cases the amount is mild, even a steady warmth can lead to ignited flammables if left alone for too long.

Get rid of under-performing appliances. Does your box fan spark every time you plug it in, or is your microwave tripping a breaker every time it runs? Get rid of that appliance! Things like these are time bombs waiting to happen, and just because nothing has gone wrong yet doesn’t mean nothing will. There’s a reason they’re called accidents!

Seek routine electrical safety and code inspections. There are tons of little things to keep up with in a home, and it’s unreasonable to expect you to know exactly how old your wiring, smoke alarms, appliances, and lights all are. That’s what professional inspections are for! Experts have the tools and training to check all of your electrical systems in a matter of an hour or two. It’s a small cost for tons of protection, so be sure to get a routine service set up.

Electrical Safety Services & Inspections with Pinellas County Electric
Our experts never want to hear that one of our clients had a horrible electrical fire that could have been avoided. We offer a full range of electrical support, repair, and replacement services. Please, take advantage of what we have to offer and keep your home and family safe!

Looking for a certified electrician in the Tampa Bay area? Contact Pinellas County Electric now!